PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS Global Climate Change: Science and Consequences Eugene S. Takle Agronomy Department Geological and Atmospheric Science Department Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 50011 [email protected]nergy Awareness Group Ames Public Library, 7 September 2005
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PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS Global Climate Change: Science and Consequences Eugene S. Takle Agronomy Department Geological and.
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PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS
Energy Awareness Group Ames Public Library, 7 September 2005
PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS
Outline Evidence for global climate change Future atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations Simulations of global climate and future climate
change Impact on global food production and fresh-water
availability Implications for the Midwest “Dangerous anthropogenic inter- ference with
the climate system”? What can I do? Hurricane Katrina
Carbon Dioxide and Temperature
Carbon Dioxide and Temperature
2004
Carbon Dioxide and Temperature
2004
2040
Carbon Dioxide and Temperature
Stabilization at 550 ppm
Carbon Dioxide and Temperature
“Business as Usual”(fossil intensive)
2100
PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS
Associated Climate Changes
Global sea-level has increased 1-2 mm/yr Duration of ice cover of rivers and lakes decreased by 2 weeks in N.
Hemisphere Arctic ice has thinned substantially, decreased in extent by 10-15% Reduced permafrost in polar, sub-polar, mountainous regions Growing season lengthened by 1-4 days in N. Hemisphere Retreat of continental glaciers on all continents Poleward shift of animal and plant ranges Snow cover decreased by 10% Earlier flowering dates Coral reef bleaching
Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2001 Report
Mann, M. E., R. S. Bailey, and M. K. Hughes, 1999: Geophysical Research Letters 26, 759.
Source: IPCC, 2001: Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis
Source: IPCC, 2001: Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis
NASA photographs show the minimm Arctic sea ice concentration in 1979 at left and in 2003.Satellite passive microwave data since 1970s indicate a 3% decrease per decade in arctic sea ice extent.
Since 1979, the size of the summer polar ice cap has shrunk more than 20 percent. (Illustration from NASA) (http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/qthinice.asp)
PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS
An increasing body of observations gives a collective picture of a warming world and other changes in the climate system
Emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols due to human activities continue to alter the atmosphere in ways that are expected to affect the climate
IPCC Summary for Policy Makers, cont’d
There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities
Anthropogenic climate change will persist for many centuries
http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/37.htm
For the Midwest Warming will be greater for winter than summer Warming will be greater at night than during the
day A 3oF rise in summer daytime temperature triples
the probability of a heat wave Growing season will be longer (8-9 days longer
now than in 1950) More precipitation Likely more soil moisture in summer More rain will come in intense rainfall events Higher stream flow, more flooding
PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS
Climate Surprises
Breakdown of the ocean thermohaline circulation (Greenland melt water)
Break-off of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet
PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS
Areas subjected to Inundation with a 1 m(~3 ft) rise in sea level
Kennedy SpaceCenter
Miami
PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS
What Consitutes “Dangerous Anthropogenic Interference with
the Climate System”?
James Hansen, Director of the NASA GoddardInstitute for Space Studies:
* Radiative forcing limit: 1 Watt/ m2
* 1 oC additional rise in global mean temperature
Hansen, Scientific American, March 2004
Mt. Pinatubo (1991)
El Chichon (1982)Agung, 1963
PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS
No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Also, some coastal flooding and minor pier damage.
2 96-110 mph 6-8 ft Some roofing material, door, and window damage. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, etc. Flooding damages piers and small craft may break their moorings.
3 111-130 mph 9-12 ft Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures, with larger structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain flooding inland.
4 131-155 mph 13-18 ft More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach areas. Terrain may be flooded well inland.
5 155 mph+ 18 ft + Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Flooding causes major damage to lower floors of all structures near the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required.
US Army Corps of Engineers
http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/em/emhurcatinfo.htm
Category 5 Winds greater than 155 mph Shrubs and trees down; considerable damage to roofing; all signs down. Severe and extensive damage to windows and doors Complete roof collapse Destruction of glass in windows and doorsSome complete building failures Small buildings overturned or blown awayComplete destruction of mobile homes Storm surge higher than 18 feet above normal Major damage to lower floors of all structures less than 15 feet above sea level within 500 yards of shore Low lying escape routes inland cut off by rising water three to five hours before hurricane center arrives Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within five to 10 miles of shore possibly required
To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs Brundtland Commission (World Commission on Environment and Development)
PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS
Summary Climate change is real and we need to be doing something
about it The longer we wait, the fewer our options Regional patterns of warming will be complicated Climate surprises can’t be
discounted We need dialog on what constitutes
“dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climatesystem”
More intense hurricanes can be expected in the future due to global warming
PROJECT TO INTERCOMPARE REGIONAL CLIMATE SIMULATIONS
For More Information For peer-reviewed evidence supporting everything you have seen in
this presentation, see my online Global Change course: